Saddleback Health Plan

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Like many a sermon, the Rev. Rick Warren's new book on getting healthy and losing weight has key points that start with the same letter.

The Saddleback Church pastor's latest book, "The Daniel Plan — 40 Days to a Healthier Life," says the keys to success are faith, food, fitness, focus and friends.

Co-author Dr. Daniel Amen (AY'-mihn) says faith should prompt Christians to care for their bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit by consuming healthy foods and exercising regularly with supportive friends.

Warren writes that he determined to get healthy several years ago when he was struggling to baptize hundreds of people and realized they all were fat, and so was he.

Warren says he repented before his congregation and challenged them to join him in a program he named after the prophet Daniel, who he says "refused to eat junk food and challenged a king to a health contest." That was three years ago.

Amen says 15,000 Saddleback members signed up and lost a combined 250,000 pounds in 2011.